Aborg's Council has given first reading to their 2016 budget. Mayor Randy Sigurdson says they're looking at a minimal increase in tax revenue, to the tune of $24,000. Like several other municipal governments, Arborg has also seen a shift in where their taxes are coming from, resulting from the reassessment of property which took effect this year.

"Just the way the reassessment went this time around, the residential went up by a little bit of a greater rate than the commercial did. Consequently if you factor that all in, there's a touch more taxes the residential people will be responsible for, as opposed to the commercial."

He says the $24,000 in additional revenue is a result of inflation, as the town has no major capital projects on the horizon.

"Last year we had such huge projects with the paving projects, the water line renewal projects and all the big stuff we did last year. We're sitting pretty tight this year with some small exceptions, the regular things like sidewalks and things like that. There's nothing major this year."

Overall Sigurdson says Council's pleased with the budget, noting a very minimal tax increase and no large expenditures.

"It's always tough when you're spending tax dollars, but I think we've done it as tightly as we could this year. Didn't get into any new terribly big expenses. I think everybody will be relatively happy with what we've done."

He says those with questions or comments on the 2016 budget can attend Tuesday morning's public hearing. It's set for ten o'clock at the town office.